Summer Media Fast

Not necessarily on purpose, but since camp at the beginning of January i have really cut back on my media. I really enjoyed the quality time with people instead of looking at a screen.

That and it being the main part of summer, i found myself heavily involved with people and spending little time at home and in front of a screen.
That has meant few TV time and Movies
Little email and facebook time
and few phone calls
I apologize for the lack of updates and communication to some after camp, but know it is not because i don't love you, it has just been that time of year! :)

Great Superbowl!

I watched the Superbowl at Noon yesterday which was weird because it it usually at like 3pm in San Diego or 6pm in Indiana and would play into the night. And it was mainly three of us guys watching... no huge party... although we did eat well.

Also, they don't show the US commercials, so i am going to have to watch them online later.

I was actually pretty disappointed since i was rooting for the Cardinals, but it was still a fun game to watch nonetheless!

I have loved the last three Superbowls for that.
This Superbowl 09 came down to the last drive and last thirty seconds
Last Year Eli Manning somehow avoided a sack and made a miraculous throw and catch on the last drive of the game in Superbowl 2008 to help win

Even the Colts vs. Bears Game in Superbowl 2007 was an emotional rollercoaster from the start when the opening kickoff was returned for a touchdown!
All this to say i have been more than pleased with the last few Superbowls.

I usually have a favorite team, but i usually root for a close or interesting game more than my team annihilating the other team.

I just remember rooting for the Buffalo Bills against the Cowboys in 1995, and not only did my team lose, but the game wasn't even close. The final was 52-17. At half time i stopped watching, of course i was only like 9 at the time, but still, a close game is always more fun in my eyes.

Ignite Followup

The camp was incredible. God really moved and i believe it is heavily because of the prayer support that went into the weekend

Below were all of the responses from the evaluation forms the teens filled out at the end of camp with basically three questions:
What did you enjoy:
Did you make any commitments:
What can we pray about for you:


What I enjoyed most about the weekend:
• Brent preaching about our saviour and the activities were awesome and GREEN WINNING!!!!!
• Group activities because it encouraged me to work together as a team, to help each other, love each other, have fun with each other and also talk in Christ with each other.
• I found the whole week enjoyable but what I enjoyed the most was the praise and worship and listening to the sermons. As well as the activities provided for us.
• All the water activities and meeting all the awesome new people.
• Is being with people who choose Christ as their God and that we could experience a change in ourselves together.
• Meeting new people and getting to know more about God.
• Meeting new people, taking part in the cool activities, listening to the messages at the rallies and the morning devotions.
• I most enjoyed the eating.
• Playing in the swimming pool and eating.
• The company, fellowship, fun activities and others.
• Game activities and church rallies.
• The activities and also the praise and worship and I really loved the Ember Days.
• Devotions
• The activities.
• Meeting new people form different cultures etc.
• The activities
• The activities that involved water.
• Getting to know Rachel (our cabin leader) more.
• The mudslide and the service on Saturday night was amazing.
• Playing games, having nice breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Having fun, getting muddy and wet and worship with the Ember Days.
• Unloading burdens. Kidney challenge!
• Most of the things
• Worship and rallies plus messy games.
• I enjoyed the team challenges because of the spirit each team had, which made it competitive and exciting. I also really enjoyed Brent’s messages, especially Saturday night.
• I really enjoyed mostly everything – the worship was awesome, really touching and I really changed.
• Meeting new people and all of the group activities were wicked. And the food was good.
• I mostly enjoyed the swimming in the pond and Brent’s sermons.
• Everything
• Ember Days
• I enjoyed everything this weekend. It was fun and exciting and I love the word that was said. Also making new friends.
• Being around lots of young people and having the most fun time ever. Loved getting dirty. I loved that fact that the whole day was planned out so no-one got bored. It was a great idea to be in teams ‘cause it brought people together.
• I really enjoyed meeting new people and the fund activities, enjoyed getting to know the girls in my cabin. Brent’s messages were really good, and I particularly liked the foot washing time – it was quite powerful and it was so awesome to serve others that way, and the encouragement I needed. And green won!!!
• Meeting so many new people and forming great friendships with them. Also working together as a team and never giving up. The meat challenge was awesome.
• Getting to know new people and to hear Brent preach! But the best part of all was being able to wash others feet and to have that experience with my peers.
• Life changing moments. Sermons, worship, meeting new peoples and building friendships, team activities.
• The foot washing night was amazing. A great sharing time. I heard about it last year and loved it.
• I enjoyed the activities and the rallies.
• Playing with other people and meeting new people.
• Free time.
• Table tennis.
• Brent’s enthusiasm in his preaching.
• Table tennis and talking with my cabin members.
• All the rally sessions and programme, and games and the free time.
• I loved it all. But my favourite was doing the team challenges and eating the food. The cooking was great, and I love the competition. My ultimate-favourite was on Sunday night on the foot washing and prayer times.
• Sermons.
• The disgusting games and activities.
• I enjoyed all the rallies, the games, free time, sleeping and spending time with people I don’t know.
• Team Activities, making new friends, talking, sleeping, free time. The Talent show and our Dance.
• Swimming in the clear pool compared to the pond. The Band Ember Days. Sermons, doing crazy shenanigans with cabin members, being gangsta in our dance.
• Spending time with the girls from my cabin and getting to know some New Zealanders. Getting wet and dirty and having a bunch of fun. Mudslide, mudfights. Practicing for the talent show.
• I really enjoyed the sermons that Pastor Brent shared with us. He really made it easy for us as youth to understand what happens around the world. I also enjoyed the mudslide. Mudslide was the highlight of my time here this year.
• I enjoyed meeting new people, doing team activities such as paddle boats, the mud slide, the pre-rallies, the cabin talent show and more.
• I enjoyed the activities such as flying fox and mudslide.
• I especially enjoyed the mudslide and other activities as well.
• I enjoyed the flying fox the most.
• I enjoyed the talent show.
• The Ember Days and all the worship and messages Brent produced. They were very encouraging and a joy to watch. I also loved the activities, especially the cabin leader hunt that PURPLE won!!!!
• Brent’s sermons, The Ember Days, footwashing, cabin leader hunt.
• Paddle boats.
• Everything.
• Swimming pool, playing, the nice food and the worship and the preaching.
• Everything, especially the preaching.

Did you make any significant decisions or commitments this week?
• Yes, I did.
• Yes, on Sunday night when Pastor Brent lead us with a message to humble ourselves like what Jesus did and it touched my heart to humble myself and serve others even if they are strong or rich or poor, especially if the hate me I try to forgive them by washing their feet.
• This week I made a decision to humble myself from those around me, my family and friends and to work on improving my spiritual walk with God. Spreading the word to everyone and also to remain humble like Jesus when others sin against me.
• No, I only re-committed.
• To care more and be aware of other people’s interests and ideas. Another commitment I made is not to be lazy.
• Yes, I have.
• Going up for the altar call, to not be nervous or intimidated in this new environment, to be happy and enjoy myself here at camp.
• No
• Just try and re-commit my life to the Lord and live by the ‘word’.
• Just taking teamwork more seriously.
• Yes and I enjoyed it and had lots of fun.
• Yes, I gave my life to the Lord for the first time.
• Not really
• I committed my life to God.
• Yes, I accepted Jesus into my life.
• Yes, to work more for God spiritually and physically.
• I asked God to help me to stay committed and be true to him.
• Yes, to go to bed late and wake up early. And yes to pray to the Lord.
• Yes. Sermons and loved ones around me this week made me want to clear my head of some things.
• I recognised that I need God’s help in my life even if I think I can be independent.
• I made a re-commitment to God on Saturday night to refresh my fire and passion for God. I also felt a calling to commit to Brent’s call for full time ministry.
• Yes, and I fell so much better because if feels like Jesus just came and took my sins away.
• I decided that I want to follow a path of ministry or whatever else the Lord has in mind.
• To change my life.
• I’ve decided to trust God more and put God into everything I do. Making sure I include him in all my decisions.
• I want to be closer to Christ.
• Not anything new, but more encouragement to really serve God with my whole live in my future through whatever he wants me to do.
• Just to make sure I totally commit my live solely and fully to him. Also to let go.
• When we were talking about Revelations chapter 2 verse 7 I made a commitment to serve and respect our church leaders and to follow in lives like theirs.
• No. I didn’t go up the front but even staying in my seat I was still overwhelmed by God and brought to the floor in tears!
• I didn’t make anything too big. I know that because of the foot washing some of my friends have become closer. It was a touching time.
• Yes, I did.
• Yes, I did.
• I committed my life to Christ.
• I thought I could believe in God more enthusiastically.
• To praise more.
• Recommitment.
• Yes, I committed to serve God all my life no matter what I have to do or how I do it.
• I recommitted my life to God and felt that I needed to.
• Yes, I did.
• No, but I did wash someone’s feet and that was very moving.
• I decided to seek God, ask for help as much as possible.
• To reduce the time I spend on the computer.
• That I will serve the Lord in anyway possible in the future and especially if it means going overseas because that’s always been my passion and I want to use that with God.
• Yeah, I committed my everything to God and asked him for help.
• To go and help people who need it.


Is there anything that I can pray for you about?
• About me in general and my Christian life.
• Yes please, I have a personal problem with a relative, but please can you help me and encourage me and to love my enemy and to forgive those who hate me.
• Pray for guidance in my life and also for our Saioni youth that we will continue to grow spiritually.
• That I will continue to grow and learn by faith in God.
• For a better relationship with Christ.
• No thanks.
• My career and pray that I can fully commit myself to the Lord 24/7
• That my relationships and the decisions I make in my life will help me grow spiritually and as a person to fulfil the plans the Lord has set out for me.
• My dad becoming a Christian.
• Having a good year and help me academically.
• My mum is in Fiji and the family around the world that is sick and everything.
• Yes, for my school work and my future and I also want you to pray for my future and my spiritual life.
• Hep me at school.
• My family and spiritual life to stay strong.
• My school and my teenage life.
• Yes, to help me know God more and to conquer the challenges ahead of me.
• Yes please, to continue worshipping God and to build a more stronger relationship between me and God.
• Just helping me to grow another year of high school and just ask the Lord to help my spiritual work with him.
• That Jesus could be in my heart and that I would worship the Lord more.
• Family problems, problems with my friends in the youth, insecurities…..please.
• Reaching friends at school.
• That my passion for God would not die out and that I would have the right attitude to tackle everyday situations.
• Yes, to help me work harder in high school. And hopefully end up somewhere.
• Good health and just thank you for everything.
• Getting dad to come to church again and that he enjoys it.
• For my family, myself and especially that God will give me strength and wisdom in my home and school as wells as outside. That would also help me to get over my fears of singing alone. And that whatever God has in store for me that I’ll stay by his side and not stray form his purpose.
• Yes, that I could listen to God’s voice, like really hear it. That my life would not be centred around me but I would concentrate on others and put them before me and most importantly put God first.
• Direction, do I move or don’t I.
• That everyone who came to this camp leaves with Jesus in their hearts and that they know that Jesus loves them and that they show others the same!!
• My brother. That he would come back to God. My Mum, that she gets better.
• Just that everything this year will go good and everyone will stay safe.
• Help me with my needs and strength.
• Yes, I would like you to pray for my life and the Saioni Youth.
• About my future.
• Have a good final year at college.
• Please just pray for my life.
• Family and friends.
• My relative who was murdered and me and my family.
• That I will continue to prosper in everything I do.
• Last year of school.
• Pray for my cousin who committed his life to the Lord this week. Just pray that his faith will grow and that he will be strong to his commitments.
• I would like to ask for you to pray for some guidance in my spiritual journey with God and to ask for forgiveness of all the wrongs I’ve done in my past.
• Even though my dad attends church (sometimes) he does not believe in God, I pray for my dad’s belief towards God.
• For my parents to be happy and for my father to go to church.
• For my father to go to church and believe in God.
• I want to be a teacher.
• Please pray that I can have confidence with facing difficult team mates this year in the first 11 and that I could even spread the word more at school and in my team. And also that I can have the strength to put up with non-conscious put-downs others are making about my true faith.
• To have a stronger walk with God and know who he really is.
• My love life.
• School and my future.
• Just pray about my family please.

I am a Camp Speaker this Weekend

It has been a good but hectic summer so far. I added two or three entries below to give you a little idea of what I have been doing during the summer and Christmas. A great opportunity that has presented itself in the last 2 months is for me to be the camp speaker at the National Wesleyan Youth Camp(www.ignite.wesleyan.org.nz) this weekend. There will be approximately 100 people attending and approx 70% believers 30% unbelievers and this is only the camps third year running. I have been preparing hard and I am getting excited about the opportunity. This is probably an important reason God has brought me back to New Zealand at this time! I would appreciate it if you would join me in prayer for the weekend. Please pray especially for God to speak through me and the teens that will make important commitments to Christ and most likely be big leaders in the future of the Wesleyan church planting movement in New Zealand. Thanks for your prayers and I have someone videotaping the sermons so that I can share them with you later.
For those of you who like to pray during the events
these are my Sermon Times this weekend and their coinciding times in the US on the West and East Coast.

Sermon 1:
Jan 9 Friday 8pm (NZ time)
Jan 8 Thursday 11pm(PT)
Jan 8 Friday 2am(ET)

Sermon 2:
Jan 10 Saturday 9am (NZ time)
Jan 9 Friday 12pm(PT)
Jan 9 Friday 3pm(ET)

Sermon 3:
Jan 10 Saturday 7:30pm (NZ time)
Jan 9 Friday 10:30pm(PT)
Jan 9 Friday 1:30am(ET)

Sermon 4:
Jan 11 Sunday 9am (NZ time)
Jan 10 Saturday 12pm(PT)
Jan 10 Saturday 3pm(ET)

Sermon 5:
Jan 11 Sunday 7:30 (NZ time)
Jan 10 Saturday 10:30pm(PT)
Jan 10 Saturday 1:30am(ET)

Random Pictures

It was great to see the family and open presents over the computer, but still not quite the same as seeing them in person!  Kelly and Brenton had not arrived until later in December

Santa Came this Christmas to New Zealand!!!
We had a great morning with about 11 of us Americans away from family. We opened presents had a nice brunch, watched the Nativity Story, and then a few of us went to the beach since it was a nice day. I didn't take any pictures on New Years... so sorry about that.

This is me chillin out at home.
I don't have a camera, so i mainly only have pictures other people have taken or pictures i have taken with the camera on my actual laptop. So you only get a random selection!

Here is my nephew Jaylon and i playing a game over Skype. haha
I am the box in the bottom left corner with my shirt over my head
Even over the internet great minds can connect and think alike

My parents home back in Indiana still rocked the Christmas lights and snow this year
This is Cail
Cail is apart of the bowlin family who have are missionaries in New Zealand currently on home ministries back in the US although they were here for Christmas

Kids seem to gravitate to the program photobooth on my computer which takes your pictures in different ways:
These are the Jones Kids
As i said kids like to take pictures on this! :)
actually this, is Heidi and Rachel who flat together about 25 minutes away from where i live, but they are to good friends that have been fun to hangout with.

More Pictures

Although my actual Christmas day didn't seem the same without the family, i spent a lot of time with people with the following two days as well which made it feel more like the holidays.
This was dinner at one of the hangouts.
Just recently a group of us dressed up and went to the pirate mini golf as actual pirates. I don't think they expected us to take them literally.

Sabbath Day. I honestly believe in keeping the Sabbath and it is hard as a pastor sometimes. I knew this week would be crazy in preparation for speaking at camp this weekend so i took Monday off and went on a surf trip with Evy Mazellan who just arrived from Marion, IN.



I rode this wave simply because it was big and a good photo opportunity for a hang loose sign.

Now that is a good Sabbath Day, spent enjoying God's people and creation!

I Led a devotional for the Shoregrace youth group where i volunteered the last time i was here on Dune sledding night. Here was the group. I Love these guys.
Here are a few more Christmas day pictures.
Here is me in a Christmas Autumn Sweater on a perfectly clear sunny day in New Zealand! :)
Here are the fresh "Americans" that are over here in New Zealand in the Wesleyan circle.
Heidi Sattler (by me) is interning for 3 more months at shoregrace, Rachel Nigro(middle) is a dental hygienist over here for at least two years, Sara Dekker(far left) is a music teacher over here indefinitely.
The Fussner family here. Emily, Jeff, and Beth
The Girls OVERLY excited about the Twilight books and going to see the movie.
Josh way too excited to see Santa!
The Global Partners Team in New Zealand. Bowlin Family on Right and in Santa's lap. Fussners bottom Left, and me and Heidi at the top. The Bowlins are already back in the states for a year now. So it is Heidi, me and the Fussners at this point. Drew and Amy Donovan, Stephenie Garey, The Reynolds Family, and the Bowlins family all have plans of returning soon rather than later hopefully!
Here is the whole Christmas day group.
hanging out

Found this cool light set up
I am also trying to stay active
Whoever knows me, knows that sport and recreation is a big part of my life and ministry, so i am continuing to explore ways to use this interest as a connection and teaching tool.

The Flipside: Bouncing Back

I think people get uneasy when they hear me express problems or negative emotions because i naturally a more positive person. The last few posts have been more emotionally driven and i hope people realize that. In the world around me there is so much more going on:

I have friends and a community at cession|community that i know support me and have my back. That has been really nice to know. Even last night i just came from a BBQ at the Jones' new place. (this is an old picture, since i don't have my camera, but a few of us in this picture were there.)
-Although i do not accept everything since i want people to give generously but rationally, it has been encouraging to have had more than enough offers of people wanting to help in whatever way possible in trying to replace items including teens wanting to put money together for an ipod and share their unused PlayStation 2, to Paul buying me the backpack, to a friend offering to help with a camera, to family offering to help with the computer, etc.
-It is not about money or even replacing everything i had, but the generosity and support has been amazing.

-I have also had a lot of people asking if i am okay. When you get comments like this you hope it is not because your face is so forlorn or because you look terrible, but it is good to know so many people are concerned and praying.

This week has also been very positive. People have been very understanding in giving me my space and allowing me to work and put things back into place. There will always be new problems, but i do feel back in step with life. It has also been interesting that i have been studying and prepping for a message on joy this Sunday!

Three things that have come out of this:
1. Insight: Talking to Rod Mackay last night, he made two insightful comments into my life. He asked, "When Satan attacks, you seem to be brought down quickly so what is your backup plan for these times?" He also said, "I have this vision of you starting fires. You are a fire starter." Very interesting and good insight.
I also got switched phones a few days prior and randomly decided to write:

"God is My Help"

on the background of my screen. It is amazing how God can lead our thoughts and hands even without us knowing it.

2. Schedule: I have been praying for a more steady schedule and although the robbery set me back initially, it has also allowed me to get a lot more into place in my life as a whole.

3. Scripture: God usually speaks in times like this:
John 16:33 has been close to my heart
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

A friend just shared with me: 1 Timothy 6:17
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Also Psalm 3 has meant a lot to me.

Thanks for your prayers and concern.
God has been good in this time.

Answer to Prayer

If you get a chance check out this video. It is shaky, it is not a high quality video, and nothing special, but it was a critical moment. I was at a low point here in New Zealand. During my last trip to New Zealand there was a time where everything went wrong. I was worn out to the point of wanting to quit, when i attended church at Shoregrace that Sunday night and received the encouragement and reaffirmation from my family in Christ. God was faithful.

This video above was last Saturday, after a week of being mentally and physically exhausted after trying to get things back into place after the robbery. I was exhausted after a full day of activities and planned to go home and crash Saturday night. For some reason i was prompted to invite Heidi, Rachel, and the teens over to the place. In a moment when i couldn't take much more for the week, the family of Christ pulled through again. We turned on Christmas music, decorated a little bit, ate snacks, and just hung out, much like my family Christmases back home. It was just what i needed and had been praying for, so i picked up Heidi's camera and recorded this! God is still faithful

One Cultural Observations: Eye Contact

I naturally tend to want to acknowledge the presence of anyone around me guy or girl , so if i ever pass someone walking in the mall or drive up next to them at a light, i will usally look over and do a small "whatsup" nod and smile if we make eye contact. People don't like that here in general!
I don't think you are expected to make eye contact with strangers.
When i usally look around in my car when i come to a red light, most people here seem to just look forward.

When i do acknowledge strangers here, people's body language or response usually says:
"What do you want?"
"What are you looking at?" or
"Who do you think you are?" lol

When i was in the US it seemed accepted as more normal or just being cordial, but here i have cars trying to race me, guys staring me down, and girls thinking i am a creep!

I need to work on that.

It's weird when i believe in who i am, and the pure intent behind my actions
but i have to withhold natural responses at times because they will be accepted differently by a different culture.
It is not a matter of being untrue to myself, but sacrificing for the better good...
Helping people here...
and not getting beat up!!!
haha

Got Robbed Followup

Details:
The police fingerprint crew came and didn't find anything, so the burglars must've worn gloves
We reported all the details of the stolen items, but the chances are slim that we will see them again.
Graeme and I both were pretty tired at the end of this week, probably because of the robbery among other things.
People have been very generous and supportive in offering temporary solutions: laptops, mp3 players, a playstation 2, etc.
The Negatives
Spacey:
I wouldn't call me spacey normally, but i have left more people hanging, missed people right in front of my face, and forgotten to do things way more than usual. My brain has just been out of it.
Sad Expectation:
Graeme and i both have less than fun feeling that it will happen again. Not realistically, but everytime i walk out to my car or walk up to the house it is almost like i just expect a window to be smashed in.
Mentally tired:
I was just tired, man! I have had people concerned because i have seemd "tired" and wornout the past week. On Saturday i was asked to go two different places for lunch. I was literally so drained i didn't want to have to choose, so i went home and took a nap instead.
Guard Down:
Usually you can process things in perspective, but when you are tired your guards are down and there were a few comments made towards me that i could normally brush off, but just sat longer simply because i didn't have the ability to bounce back.
Low Point:
Exhaustion, strain, stress, responsibilities, guards down, and lack of my calendaring tools in my life accumulated this week and left me pretty low. I finished a youth rally Saturday night ready to go home alone. Instead i felt inclined to invite Heidi, Rachel, & the teens from the last youth group i worked with at Shoregrace over....

The Positives
Family & Christmas:
Inviting the teens over, putting on Christmas music, and just hanging out was so therapeudic for me! It was just what i needed and was the closest i felt to it getting close to Christmas with the ambiance and people i enjoy just hanging out together.

Mom and Jen, I put your gifts to use.... i decided to use the rings as decoration and the calendar as the countdown. Love you family and miss you guys.
The Church Body:
Both this time and when i hit a HUGE low the last time in New Zealand, it has been a group of Christian family that have brought me back up. It was encouraging words at a church service at night the first time and this time it was just having a glimpse of home and family.
A Backpack:
My friend Paul, bought me a nice backpack to replace the one stolen. It may have been a small thing, but it meant a lot and is probably the nicest backpack i have ever had!
Support:
I have to admit i am not good at being helped. I tend to try and fix my own life, so it has been good for me to have people from Cession, GP, and even Shoregrace come beside and ask for ways to help. It is good to not feel alone. Also it is helping me to learn how to let others help instead of trying to fix it on my own which is hard to do at times.

The verse i have been quoting constantly has been John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Did I miss Chatter Rings in the US?

I will update you a little more on the robbery tomorrow, but tonight i was introduced to chatter rings

You spin the small rings and then keep them spinning while doing tricks with the bigger ring.
Here is a Quick Clip on YouTube if you are interested

Apparently it was big here in New Zealand in the 90's. Did this go through the US and i miss it or was it not big there?

My New Zealand Complaints

This blog may make me look like a spoiled American, but
I don't like the telecom vodafone war... and the way they rip you off
I don't like that calling people is not cheaper
I don't like the fact that there you have to pay for internet by the Gig
I don't like the right of way rule when driving.

Those are my complaints. That is what i would change if i could.